Broadband antenna disposed in vehicle

Abstract

An antenna module mounted in a vehicle comprises: a PCB on which electronic components are disposed; and an antenna element connected to a metal pattern on the PCB and configured to radiate a radio signal. The antenna element may include a first conductive part formed perpendicularly to the PCB within a predetermined angle range and having a first metal pattern formed in a roof shape. The antenna element may further include a second conductive part having a second metal pattern formed parallel to the PCB at an upper end of the first metal pattern.

1 . An antenna module mounted in a vehicle, the antenna module comprising:
 a printed circuit board (PCB) on which electronic components are disposed;   an antenna element connected to a metal pattern on the PCB and configured to radiate a radio signal;   a lower cover disposed below the PCB and made of a metal plate; and   an upper cover combined with the lower cover and configured to accommodate the PCB and the antenna element therein;   wherein the antenna element comprises:   a first conductive part disposed to be perpendicular to the PCB within a predetermined angle range and having a first metal pattern in a loop shape; and   a second conductive part having a second metal pattern disposed at an upper end of the first metal pattern to be parallel with the PCB, and   the antenna element is configured to:   radiate a first signal in a first band through the first conductive part and the second conductive part, and   radiate a second signal in a second band other than the first band through the first conductive part.   
     
     
         2 . The antenna module of  claim 1 , wherein the antenna element further comprises:
 a feeding structure configured to extend from an upper end of a first separation point of a lower pattern of the first metal pattern to be connected to a signal pattern of the PCB; and   a short-circuit structure configured to extend from an upper end of a second separation point of the lower pattern of the first metal pattern to be connected to a ground pattern of the PCB.   
     
     
         3 . The antenna module of  claim 2 , wherein the feeding structure comprises:
 a first feed pattern disposed to extend from an upper end of a first separation point of a lower pattern of the first metal pattern to be parallel with the PCB; and   a second feed pattern disposed at an end of the first feeding pattern to be perpendicular to the first feed pattern; and   a third feed pattern disposed at an end of the second feed pattern to be perpendicular to the second feed pattern and configured to be connected to a signal pattern of the PCB.   
     
     
         4 . The antenna module of  claim 3 , wherein a first slot region is disposed in an upper pattern of the first metal pattern to have a second length greater than a first length of a gap in the lower pattern, and
 a second slot region is disposed in one region of the second metal pattern connected to the upper pattern of the first metal pattern to have a third length equal to or greater than the second length.   
     
     
         5 . The antenna module of  claim 1 , wherein a length of a lower pattern of a first metal line of the first conductive part is determined so that the antenna element operates in a low band (LB), and
 a sum of the length of the lower pattern and a side length of the first metal line is determined so that the antenna element operates in a mid band (MB).   
     
     
         6 . The antenna module of  claim 5 , wherein a length of one side of the lower pattern of the first metal line is determined so that the antenna element operates in a fifth generation (5G) Sub-6 band, and
 a distance between the lower pattern and the upper pattern of the first metal line is determined so that the antenna element operates in a high band (HB).   
     
     
         7 . The antenna module of  claim 5 , wherein the second conductive part comprises:
 a first metal region disposed to be connected to the first metal line and configured to have a first width and a first length; and   a second metal region configured to have a second width smaller than the first width,   a total length of the first metal region and the second metal region is configured as a second length, and   the first length and the second length are determined so that the antenna element operates in a mid band (MB) and a low band (LB), respectively.   
     
     
         8 . The antenna module of  claim 1 , wherein the antenna element is configured to:
 radiate a first signal at a first frequency in the first band through the second conductive part, and   radiate a signal at a second frequency higher than the first frequency in the first band through the first conductive part and the second conductive part, and   the first band is a low band (LB), and the second band higher than the first band is a mid band (MB) and a high band (HB).   
     
     
         9 . The antenna module of  claim 1 , wherein the antenna element further comprises a third conductive part disposed on the PCB and configured to radiate a third signal in a third band higher than the second band, and
 the antenna element is configured to:   radiate a third signal at a first frequency in the third band through the first conductive part and the third conductive part, and   radiate a third signal at a second frequency higher than the first frequency in the third band through the third conductive part.   
     
     
         10 . The antenna module of  claim 1 , wherein the antenna element operates as a first antenna disposed on one side region of the PCB, and the second conductive part of the first antenna is disposed to be bent at an upper end of the first metal pattern in one direction,
 the antenna element further comprises a second antenna disposed on another side region of the PCB to have a structure symmetrical to the first antenna, and   the second antenna comprise:   a first conductive part disposed to be perpendicular to the PCB within a predetermined angle range and configured to have a first metal pattern in a loop shape; and   a second conductive part disposed to be bent at an upper end of the first metal pattern in another direction opposite to the one direction and having a second metal pattern to be parallel with the PCB.   
     
     
         11 . The antenna module of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) antenna disposed to be apart from one side end of a second radiation structure of the first antenna and comprising an upper radiator and a connection portion perpendicularly connected to the upper radiator; and   a Wi-Fi antenna disposed between the first antenna and the GNSS antenna, and configured as a side surface radiator.   
     
     
         12 . The antenna module of  claim 11 , further comprising a network access device (NAD) disposed on the PCB to be adjacent to the first antenna and operably coupled to the first antenna and the second antenna, and
 when quality of a signal received from the first antenna is equal to or less than a threshold value, the NAD applies a signal to the second antenna to receive a signal through the second antenna.   
     
     
         13 . The antenna module of  claim 12 , wherein the NAD is configured to:
 perform multiple input/output (MIMO) or diversity operation in the first band through the first antenna and the second antenna, and   perform MIMO or diversity operation in the second band through the first antenna and the second antenna, when quality of the first signal in the first band is equal to or below a threshold value.   
     
     
         14 . The antenna module of  claim 10 , further comprising a backup battery disposed in the upper cover and configured to supply power to inside of the antenna module,
 wherein the first antenna is disposed to be adjacent to one side of an accommodation space of the backup battery, and   the second antenna is located in a lower region of the accommodation space to be disposed to be offset to a lower region further than the first antenna.   
     
     
         15 . The antenna module of  claim 10 , further comprising a dielectric mold attached to regions of the lower cover in correspondence with a first region and a second region on the PCB, respectively, wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are disposed in the first region and the second region, respectively, and
 metal in lower portions of the first antenna and the second antenna is configured to be apart from ground by the dielectric mold.   
     
     
         16 . A vehicle having an antenna module mounted therein, the vehicle comprising:
 an antenna module disposed below a roof of the vehicle; and   a processor disposed inside or outside the antenna module and configured to communicate with at least one of an adjacent vehicle, a road side unit (RSU), and a base station,   wherein the antenna module comprises:   a printed circuit board (PCB) on which electronic components are disposed;   an antenna element connected to a metal pattern on the PCB and configured to radiate a radio signal;   a lower cover disposed below the PCB and made of a metal plate; and   an upper cover combined with the lower cover and configured to accommodate the PCB and the antenna element therein;   the antenna element further comprises:   a first conductive part disposed to be perpendicular to the PCB within a predetermined angle range and having a first metal pattern in a loop shape; and   a second conductive part having a second metal pattern disposed at an upper end of the first metal pattern to be parallel with the PCB, and   the antenna element is configured to:   radiate a first signal in a first band through the second conductive part, and   radiate a second signal in a second band other than the first band through the first conductive part.   
     
     
         17 . The vehicle of  claim 16 , wherein the antenna element further comprises:
 a feeding structure configured to extend from an upper end of a first separation point of a lower pattern of the first metal pattern to be connected to a signal pattern of the PCB; and   a short-circuit structure configured to extend from an upper end of a second separation point of the lower pattern of the first metal pattern to be connected to a ground pattern of the PCB, and   the feeding structure comprises:   a first feed pattern disposed to extend from the upper end of the first separation point of the lower pattern of the first metal pattern to be parallel with the PCB;   a second feed pattern disposed at an end of the first feeding pattern to be perpendicular to the first feed pattern; and   a third feed pattern disposed at an end of the second feed pattern to be perpendicular to the second feed pattern and configured to be connected to the signal pattern of the PCB.   
     
     
         18 . The vehicle of  claim 16 , wherein the antenna element operates as a first antenna disposed on one side region of the PCB, and the second conductive part of the first antenna is disposed to be bent at an upper end of the first metal pattern in one direction,
 the antenna element further comprises a second antenna disposed on another side region of the PCB to have a structure symmetrical to the first antenna, and   the second antenna comprises:   a first conductive part disposed to be perpendicular to the PCB within a predetermined angle range and configured to have a first metal pattern in a loop shape; and   a second conductive part disposed to be bent at an upper end of the first metal pattern in another direction opposite to the one direction and having a second metal pattern to be parallel with the PCB.   
     
     
         19 . The vehicle of  claim 18 , wherein the processor is disposed on the PCB to be adjacent to the first antenna and operably coupled to the first antenna and the second antenna, and
 when quality of a signal received from the first antenna is equal to or less than a threshold value, the processor applies a signal to the second antenna to receive a signal through the second antenna.   
     
     
         20 . The vehicle of  claim 19 , wherein the processor is configured to:
 perform multiple input/output (MIMO) or diversity operation in the first band through the first antenna and the second antenna, and   perform MIMO or diversity operation in the second band higher the first band through the first antenna and the second antenna, when quality of the first signal in the first band is equal to or below a threshold value.